BASICS OF INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS
 ACTORS IN INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS

• During World War, There was only one major actor; when the concept
of international relation was introduced i.e. “STATE”

• A State is comprised of;

a) A defined territory demarcated by specific boundaries.
b) A defined population residing in that territory
c) An integrated set of institutions that is capable of making and
enforcing laws over this population (internal sovereignty), and
d) The recognition by other states of the sovereignty of that state
(external sovereignty).
 NON STATE ENTITIES

• Non-State entities are the organisations which;

a) Share some but not all of the characteristics of states (sub-state actors)
b) Incorporate two or more states in a new entity (e.g. international
organizations)

Non State entities are categorised into 3 parts:

A. International Organizations. B. Multinational Corporations. C.

Non-governmental Organizations
International Organizations:
1. Institutions with formal membership and procedures
2. Only states are members
3. Membership can be limited or universal
4. Purpose may be broad or narrow
Examples of Ios
Limited Membership, Narrow Purpose: Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries
Limited Membership, Broad Purpose: African Union
Universal Membership, Narrow Purpose: Universal Postal Union
Universal Membership Broad Purpose: United Nations
• Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are organizations that seek to
make a profit by engaging in foreign production, marketing, finance,
and staffing through directly controlled affiliates located in several
states.

Examples of MNCs: Coca-Cola, Sony, Nike

• Non-Governmental Organizations Broad category - Not states and

non- profit Includes religions, charities, political activists, academic
research communities, and even terrorist groups.
Examples of NGOs: Roman Catholic Church, International Red Cross,
Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders
 TYPES OF INTERACTION AMONG
ACTORS

• Major Interaction between actors fall under one of the categories

mentioned herein under;
a) Harmony
b) Coordination
c) Cooperation
d) Conflict
• Harmony: Harmony is when actors interests coincide. Independent
pursuit of own interests returns maximum output. More common than
often considered.
Example – India become strict for the production of Small arms,
availability of small arms decreases in Nepal.

• Coordination: Actors more interested in choosing the same strategy

than in choosing any given strategy.
Example – Human Right Protection Two possibilities Pure coordination –
easier Coordination after investment - harder
• Cooperation: Cooperation is mutual adjustment of policy. Benefits both
actors, but not always equally.
Example – WHO eradication of smallpox

• Conflict: Results from mutually incompatible preferences. Not always

violent.

Example – 2004 US steel tariffs, EU retaliates on Florida oranges. Another

is situation of Syria and NATO, or India and Pakistan
 FACTORS DETERMINING
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

I. Geographic;

II. Economic;
III. Demographic;
IV. Strategic Additional Factors:
• The historical-psychological, Sociological factor;
• The organizational-administrative factor;
• The military factor